Match Summary
India and New Zealand fought against each other in the 12th match of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 played in Dubai International Stadium. India played first and put up a challenging 249/9. New Zealand batting in response was tormented by India’s spinners and was bowled for 205 runs. India won by 44 runs and progressed to the semi-finals.
New Zealand’s Batting Performance
The New Zealand pursuit never gained momentum as they kept losing wickets at intervals. Kane Williamson played cautiously in the start with 81 from 99 deliveries, showcasing pressure temperament. The rest of the batting line-up could not provide the required backup. Will Young scored 22 runs, while Daryl Mitchell scored 17, but none of the batsmen stayed long enough to develop a match-winning partnership.
Indian bowlers did not drop their guard, especially Varun Chakravarthy, who registered a whopping five-wicket haul. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel added two wickets each and pestered the New Zealand batsmen.
India’s Batting Performance
India’s top batting was shaky from the start with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli falling early. But Shreyas Iyer held the innings together with a crucial score of 79 runs from 98 deliveries, steadying the middle order. Hardik Pandya’s 45 from 40 deliveries was in a hurry but provided useful runs, and Axar Patel’s contribution of 42 runs provided India with a reasonable score.
Despite the five-wicket effort from Matt Henry on behalf of New Zealand, India was able to muster a score that was simply too massive for the Kiwis to handle. Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner registered two and one wickets, respectively, but could not deny India from establishing a good score.
Key Points to Take Home from the Game
✔ Varun Chakravarthy match-winning over – His 5/42 disintegrated the batting unit of New Zealand and gave the victory to India.
✔ Shreyas Iyer’s consistent innings – His 79 runs provided solidity when India needed it most.
✔ Matt Henry’s sublime bowling – Despite New Zealand losing, his five-wicket inning was outstanding.
✔ Kane Williamson’s lone fight – His 81-run performance was enough, but lack of partnerships robbed New Zealand of the victory.
✔ Rampage of Indian spinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy together picked seven wickets, exposing New Zealand’s weakness against spin.
Match Summary
India beat New Zealand by 44 runs due to even batting and overpowering spin bowling. India won Group A dominating and reached the semi-final against Australia with this victory.
New Zealand relied a lot on Kane Williamson, but their failure to handle India’s spinners cost them the match. Matt Henry bowled superbly, but the Kiwi batting lineup could not form partnerships.
Final Thoughts:
✅ India proved themselves to be true title contenders
❌ New Zealand’s batting collapse and failure to handle spin cost them the match
India is entering the semi-finals now buoyant and New Zealand have to reflect upon their slip-up and come back strengthened.
It was a masterful display of India’s preponderance in a high-intensity game!?????????
